cleveland



F. E. ROBERTSON.

SUCHON CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. m5.

1,4 1 5,053. Patented May 9, 1922.

fizz/2122b: TraakEZmem-aa ounce STATES PATENT oFPict-i.

rmx 'n nonnn'rson', or cLnvnnann, omo, assrenoa T0 was r. A, Gm comramr, or cnsvnnann, omo, A CORPORATION or onro.

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS.

, relate principally to aflush-connecting desuction cleaning drawings, I have emp 'bot vice for the vacuum cleaning nozzle, and one which is adapted to afli'ord an air tight joint therefor. lternatively there may be attached a coupling for a suction hose, which coupling preferabl ma be used. as well upon the blower outlet 0t the vacuum cleaning device.

For the purpose of storing vacuum cleaners, it is desira le to lace the same in a small compass, provide the device may be assembled by an unskilled person, without the use of tools. This is in and shipping addition to the desirable feature of afl'ordwhich ing an alternative hose connection, ma be applied to the vacuum cleaner, and of these functions are secured by the structural features which I may better explain in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a vacuum cleaning appliance embodying my invention, with its connections in position for attachment.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the fan chamber and its substantially flush connecting appliance or socket.

Fig. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the hose-connector.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 respectively, are plan views of the members forming the connectinggappliance.v a

ig. 8 is a. fragment in vertical section, showing the connectin appliance with the suction nozzle termina in osition for use, and Fig. 9 is an outline view in elevation of the complete vacuum cleaning device.

Throughout the several figures of the loved the same character of reference to indicate similar parts.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.A paratus, of which the the body of said member.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed August 7, 1915. Serial No. 44,283.

The fan casing a, and its blower outlet a,

preferably comprise a hollow aluminum casting which is supported upon the wheels b. The suction cleaning nozzle 0, and the hose-connector d, are adapted to fit alternatively thereon. These members are separable, but are readily attachable to the cas ng, as lndicated by the said relative positions in Figs. 1 and 9.

The suction cleaning nozzle 0, has a mutilated rearward flange member or members a.

and a. rear sleeve 0'', which are adapted to fit closely upon and within the casing, as will be explained. The hose-connector d, likewise has a mutilated flange member or members d for accomplishing the same purpose; said hose-connector'in addition, being of such inner diameter, that it will fit closely overthe blower outlet 0 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus. The assembled nelation of the parts is shown in Fig. 9.

The extremely simple connecting a pliance for altern tively attaching the vacuum cleaning no zle on the hose-con nector, will be readily understood b mak- #ing reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, s owing the members which are secured about the inlet opening a" of the fan chamber a. These are essentially annular in form, and their openings are slightly larger than said inlet opening, but of such diameter that the suction cleaning nozzle will fit easily therein, while its extension 0', fits closely within said opening to form substantially a seal for said nozzle, when it is in position for use. This is well shown in the enlarged section.

The inner annulus e, is cut-away throughout arcs of approximately 30, positioned 120 apart to form sockets or receptacles e for the mutilated flange members a, d, respectivelyI, upon the nozzle and hose-connector. he annulus f, is similarly constructed, although slightly wider cut-away portions f and corresponding slots f" are provided therein, piece f, for its actuation, is integral with A heavier reinforcing or cover member g, completes the said flush-connecting appliance, while the corresponding cut-away arcs g and screwlioles 9", together with an outer flange g? will be found therein. The cover member, I may say, while desirable, is not absolutely essential to the construction shown.

while a protruding thumb This flush connection, as best seen in Fig. 1, permits a flat front plate for the fan chamber to be used, offering no projections to in terfere when storing, acking or shipping the suction cleaner. hforeover, the suction nozzle may be properly shaped and proportioned to avoid eddy-currents therein, which materially increases its effectiveness, while enabling one to attach and detach it almost instantaneously without tools.

As mounted upon the casing a, the connecting appliance affords a socket, wherein the rear of the suction cleaning nozzle, with its mutilated flange members or extensions is adapted to fit; said flange members being of slightly greater thickness than the annulus e, and fitting accuratel within the sockets e, afforded therein, while the former closely fits rearwardly within the inlet opening a" of the fan chamber.

Upon rotating the member f, by means of its thumb piece in a clockwise direction, after the nozzle has been thus inserted in position, it is seen that the corners f thereof, which preferably are slightly flared, will ride above the flange members 0 and serve to wedge them well within their sockets e, to tie end that a sealin or tight fitting attachment may be rovided for the vacuum cleaning nozzle. he reverse movement of the thumb piece f instantly frees said nozzle and the hose-connector d may be substituted therefor.

Accordingly, the device may be assembled and disassembled without the 'use of tools, while the wed ing action of the rotatable member f is su cient to compensate for any slight wear between the parts. .Also, the attaching screws It, may be set a little more tightly in the casing 11, to take up further wear. Thus the device is adapted for the use of house-wives or servants and requires no tools or mechanical adaptability for the instant attachment and detachment of the different connecting members. 1

An important incident'of my improved flush connection for the nozzle or other implements of a suction-cleaner is foundin the immediate adjustment thereof in their proper predetermined position with respect to the casing and contained fan, in which they are held rigidly against angular movement or turning. The position likewise is established as between the nozzle and the floor on which it operates, so that the spacing is uniform along the entire slot of the nozzle. Moreover, the efficiency of the fan suffers no impairment, by reason of the fact that the floor nozzle, which is the implement principally used, is coupled directly to the fan chamber and its duct may be properly proportioned to direct the air currents therein, without the disadvantage attendant upon an extended tubular connection or an intermediate or expansion chamber.

substantially necting mechanism provided upon the front 1 face adjacent to the opening and adapted separably to secure the nozzle in position,

as set forth. r

2. In suction-cleaning a paratus, the combination with a fan-cham er and fan, of an alternative implement adapted for connection either with the inlet or the blower openings thereof and equipped with a mutilated flange, and a connecting-a plianoe for the inlet-opening, comprising a emale mutilated disk wherein said flan e fits closely and a superposed rotatable d with wedging members adapted to be isk equipped brought into partial register with the muti-.

lated flange, substantia y as set forth.

3. In suction-cleaning apparatus, the combination with the fan'chamber and its 'enclosed fan, of a connecting appliance sub stantially flush with the inlet opening of said fan-chamber; comprising a fiat recessed socket and a superposed rotatable member equipped with wedging parts adapted to register above said recesses, and a removable implement having extensions adapted closely to fit within the recesses of the socket, substantially as set forth.

4. In suction-cleaning apparatus, the combination with the fan-chamber and its enclosed fan, of a connecting appliance substantially flush with the inlet opening of said fan-chamber; comprising a flat recessed socket and a sflperposed rotatable member equipped with wedging parts adapted to register above said recesses and a superposed reinforcing cover-member, and.- a removable implement, having extensions adapted closely to fit within the recesses of the socket, substantially as set forth.

5. A suction cleaning appliance of the class described having a fan casing substantially flat in front with a central inlet opening and a separable cleanin nozzle, of a flush connecting mechanism t erefor be; tween the casing and the nozzle having interlocking members adapted accurately to position and secure the separable nozzle upon the fan casing in register with the inlet opening, substantially as set forth.

6. A suction cleaning appliance of the class described, having a removable cleanin nozzle and an alternatively attachable implement or connection for its lower outlet, of a flush connecting mechanism associated therewith between the casing and the nozzle and adapted removably to secure the nozzle or the connection in register with the inlet opening of the appliance, substantially as set fort 7. Coupling means for suction-cleaning implements, comprising a casing haying an inlet opening and a. receiving seat with substentia 1y flush detents in fixed position upon its front wall, it suction-cleanin implement having corresponding flush etents and adapted to fit said receiving seat in predetermined position with respect to the cusing, and a wedging member adapted removab y to secure the implement in position, substantially as set fort 8. Suction-cleanin apparatus,- comprising a casing havin an inlet 0 ening and a recessed seat wit periphera recesses e suction-cleaning floor implement having peripheral flange members corresponding to s'ind receses and adapted to. fit upon the recessed seat in substantially flush relation and in predetermined position with respect to the casin and a rotatable wedging-member adapte to engage said flange members and form a flush coupling, substantially as set forth.

9. Suction-cleaning apparatus, comprising a suction-fan casing hsvmg an inlet opening equi pecl with a stationary plate recessed in fixe position, a suction-cleaning nozzle hawing a multilnted flange closely fitting said opening and recess, in substantially flush relation and thereby adapting said nozzle to be adjusted upon the casing in fixed osi- 'tion, and a. rotatable sheet metal we gin member adapted to engage the multilate flange and secure the nozzle in place upon the casing, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the casing of a suction-cleaning fan; said casing having a front inlet opening and a receivino' seat with peripheral engaging members, sxibstentielly flush flange members fitting the same, a floor nozzle carried thereon and adapted to be connected in predetermined position thereby, and a wedg ng member removebly securin the same to the receiving seat, substnntial y as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signs-- ture in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK n. ROBERTSON. Witnesses:

FRANK. Bunnie, Ansnn'r LYNN Lawmmon. 

